TMS SPECIALIST

What is TMS?

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a state-of-the-art treatment approved by the FDA for depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This treatment uniquely uses pulses of magnetic energy to alter specific processes inside your brain, such as mood regulation.

TMS is different from the more conventional treatments for these mental health disorders, such as psychotherapy and medications. However, it can get you to a point where engaging in psychotherapy is more comfortable, and you can more easily achieve your goals.

Typically, TMS offers improved symptoms or a complete elimination of symptoms. You can expect it to take a few weeks of consistent treatment to notice a significant improvement.

Anandraj Mattai, MD, and the other providers at Innovative Psychiatry, LLC, in Columbia, Maryland, use TMS when other treatments, like psychotherapy and medications, do not provide substantial improvements in symptoms. To schedule an appointment, call Innovative Psychiatry, LLC, or book online today.

Who can benefit from TMS?

Depending on your health history and the success of your other treatments, your provider might recommend TMS for treatment-resistant depression (TRD); Depression (tends to respond well to antidepressants and psychotherapy in most cases. If you don't experience improvements from more conventional therapies, your provider might recommend TMS to relieve symptoms like hopelessness, sadness, fatigue, and suicidal thoughts.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) involves anxiety-driven uncontrolled thoughts called obsessions and compulsions, which are behaviors driven by your thoughts. The magnetic impulses target parts of the brain responsible for OCD symptoms.

Standard Course: 19 minute daily treatments every business day to total 36 sessions.

aTMS: 8 sessions each day for 6 business days. 10 minute sessions with 50 minutes of off time in between.

ONE-D TMS: 20 treatments in a single day. 3 minute sessions with 27 minutes of off time in between.

What is off-label TMS?

Off-label TMS refers to the use of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for conditions that have not been officially approved by regulatory authorities like the FDA. TMS is primarily FDA-approved for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD), but healthcare providers can use it to address other mental health conditions and neurological disorders based on clinical judgment and research evidence, even though these uses haven't been formally sanctioned for approval.

For example, TMS can be used off-label to treat:

• Anxiety disorders
• ADHD
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Migraines
• Bipolar disorder
• Tinnitus
• Eating disorders

While not FDA-approved for all these conditions, many studies and clinical experiences suggest that TMS can be an effective treatment option for patients who haven't found relief with other therapies.

PATIENT PROCESS

NO COST CONSULTATION: Meeting with a patient consultant to learn about the TMS therapy treatment process and begin the insurance paperwork.

EVALUATION: Meeting with one of our providers to further investigate whether TMS is right for you.

FIRST APPOINTMENT: Our provider will identify the precise areas of your brain that control depression, and establish your unique treatment settings on the TMS device.

TMS TREATMENT:

• Daily 20-30 minute sessions (approximately 6-9 weeks).
• During your treatment you can read, watch tv, or use your phone.
• TMS requires no downtime. After each session, you can drive yourself home, or go back to work.
• Patients typically feel an improvement within 3-4 weeks.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How is TMS different from other treatments?

TMS is very different from medications and talk therapy. Medications aren't as customizable - they may not work for genetic reasons and could cause moderate to severe side effects. Symptoms of depression can interfere with the comfort and effectiveness of talk therapy. TMS is targeted to the part of the brain that regulates mood, treating depression as its neurological source.

Does TMS affect my whole body, or just my brain?

The magnetic position and magnetic dose used in TMS therapy is customized to you during your first appointment.

Side effects are oftentimes limited to the treatment site, such as headaches or toothaches, rather than the entire body.

Does it hurt?

During the session, you will feel a tapping sensation on your head. Each treatment session lasts up to 19 minutes. Some NeuroStar patients experience mild to moderate pain or discomfort at or near the treatment site during the first week of treatment

Is TMS the same as ECT?

No, ECT induces a seizure and requires a hospital setting, anesthesia, and extended recovery time. ECT is associated with side effects like memory loss, mood changes, and nausea. TMS is a treatment applied directly to the specific area of your brain that regulates mood, requires no hospitalization, anesthesia, or downtime, and has minimal side effects like scalp discomfort, headaches or toothaches.